13-year-old Edmond girl takes down a 13-point buck

Editor's note:Jerick Henley of Edmond is a hunting guide who oversees the hunting operation on the Chain Ranch near Canton. But occasionally, he gets time off from work to go hunting with his three daughters.

Life moves at a pretty fast pace.

Between family, work, church, and the myriad other distractions that present themselves everyday, it's hard to find time to squeeze in one more activity.

But when my 13-year-old daughter asks me if we can go deer hunting together, my world comes to a screeching halt.

A dear friend had asked me to hunt with him and his son on opening day of muzzleloader season. When I called him to ask if I could bring my daughter, he knew, being a dad himself, how important it was.

Isabelle and I arrived in Waynoka late Friday evening, having been lucky enough to get the last room at the only motel in town. The ride had been filled with 2 1/2 hours of nonstop talking, more than would normally fill a week's worth around the dinner table at home.

We both were too excited to sleep much that night and when the alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., we jumped out of bed, dressed in our camo and hunter orange and headed to the truck.

We made a quick stop at the gas station for coffee and juice, then on to the ranch. My friend and his son decided to go to the far end of the ranch, leaving Isabelle and I to hunt the "south stand."

It is not actually a stand, but simply a round cedar tree on a little sand hill overlooking a draw that runs from one area of timber to another, with a feeder on the south end.

We parked ourselves behind the cedar tree just after 7 a.m. It was cold that morning, but neither of us felt the chill because we were so excited just to be out in God's creation.

Isabelle took the outside position, so she could have the clearest view of the draw. I tucked in tight to the cedar tree.

After getting herself settled, she placed a set of shooting sticks in front of her and laid the barrel of the TC Encore in the "v" at the top of the sticks. She wanted to make sure everything was in place before shooting light arrived.

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by Ed Godfrey

Copy Editor, Outdoors Editor, Rodeo, River Sports Reporter

Ed Godfrey was born in Muskogee and raised in Stigler. He has worked at The Oklahoman for 25 years. During that time, he has worked a myriad of beats for The Oklahoman including both the federal and county courthouse in Oklahoma City for more...